2nd gen manual transmission fix

any one able to chime in on this new product and it’s ability to fix problems associated with manual trans.?
http://www.clutchmasters.com/n16078-h-tacoma-fj-ra60/

 

I ordered a kit last week

 

What "problems associated with manual trans" are you trying to fix?

 

I'm assuming the squeaky throwout bearing problem that almost everyone with a manual trasmission seems to have

 

Not

 

Looks interesting. Man has been fine since I put the urd sleeve kit on it (knock on wood) which is quite a bit cheaper. But seems to only work for some people. It's nice to have options though.

 

What?

 

Subbed. Looks well built and like it would mount solidly.

 

Not an issue for everyone. Common enough to be noted might be only a few percent. You usually only hear from those that share an issue which makes it seem more prevalent.

 

Its nice to get some 2nd gen love at least. Looks like a pretty beefy setup.

 

It’s is similar to what urd used to sell previously. This was provided from another forum when asked about this in comparison to the current urd fix.

That is an option, however I have still seen a few instances of failure with those kits in the forums (snout shearing off). The two kits couldn't be used in conjunction since the PDM sleeve kit increases the overall diameter of the snout the internal slave cylinder mounts to. With the Clutch Masters kit there is a spacer that goes on first which is a very tight fit around the OEM aluminum snout. This spacer registers the HSS and positions it at a proper height.

As far as when to install, that would be up to you. Of course the most common issue these 6-speeds have is the throwout bearing starting to squeak and if left like that can cause severe wear to the aluminum snout. There is a TSB from Toyota about this issue.

The kit can be installed at anytime, using the OEM clutch or any aftermarket clutch if you're planning to change that out soon.

The Clutch Master kit vastly improved the feeling of my clutch over the OEM setup and now I'm not worried about a snout wearing and shearing off or a pivot ball wearing out effecting the operation of my clutch because the pivot ball is gone and the way the Clutch Master cylinder actuates, the physics at play would never allow for the snout to shear off or wear.

Picture from Clutch Master website showing the spacer, the cylinder, and the throwout bearing.

 

You’ve already installed this kit?

 

No, researching it. Quote is from a dude on another forum. Just gathering intel !!!

 

Interesting. Glad to see options out there. I'm still on the original clutch at 130k, so I figure I still have ~70k more until I need to change it. Hopefully theres some good reviews on this by then

 

Subbed

 

So who's gonna install one

 

I have an RA60F with ~80k without this issue yet.

On a somewhat unrelated note, I got a chuckle out of the idea that a clutch-oriented business used the wrong word for something integral to manual transmissions (peddle versus the correct pedal).

 

Should be arriving today

 

What clutch/flywheel combo are you using in conjunction with the RA60?

 

I was initially the one to approach Clutch Masters about coming up with an internal hydraulic slave cylinder (HSS for short) upgrade for the 6s-peed RA60/61 transmissions found in 2nd gen Tacoma's and FJ Cruisers.

I have an FJ Cruiser that I bought a couple years ago. The previous owner had the clutch and throwout bearing replaced at about 159k miles. I picked up the rig at 162k and right at about 170k the dreaded throwout bearing squeaking shows up. After doing a ton of research into fixes available I wasn't sold on the PDM kit as that still uses the same factory setup and bearing. Now I'm not an engineer but I just don't see how a bearing is expected to last with constant pressure being applied to it spinning thousands of RPMs without the ability to be able to lube it once in awhile. That is the case with the factory throwout bearing. The way it was designed it has preload against the diaphragm of the clutch so it is constantly spinning with the engine. When I got under my rig, took off the inspection plate on the side of the transmission and peaked in there, I was horrified at what I saw. The throwout bearing had some very noticeable lateral movement as it was spinning. I can some what come to the conclusion that this is what causes the snout to wear (or in rare severe cases, shear off), mine had actually mushroomed the end of the snout a decent amount This will also cause serious wear to the pivot ball the clutch fork sits on which can eventually lead to difficulty shifting, or again another rare worse case scenario, the pivot ball snapping off entirely. The stock system works of course and that is how many manual transmissions are designed to operate, but I like to improve upon weaknesses if possible, as I'm sure many others do as well.

So I thought there has to be a solution to this. I have been building aftermarket performance cars for several years now and I had used the Clutch Master's HSS in a few other applications and was always very impressed with the noticeable increase in shifting precision and feel. I found a spare transmission and delivered it to Clutch Masters' HQ and they got to work coming up with a kit. In the end it was quite straight forward and they were able to use several parts from applications they had already developed HSS kits for. The main thing they changed/added is the custom height spacer that sits flush up against the bellhousing, the bracket that secures the slave cylinder, and the hydraulic lines. For good measure since these trucks get used in dusty, muddy, and wet situations they designed a plug that sits tight where the stock slave cylinder once bolted into and the hoses run through that. Everything is hard anodized for the ultimate in durability. Clutch Masters has been making these HSS kits for several years now and they are used in lots of high horsepower drag, drift, and circuit cars that put them through a beating, I know the HSS will stand up to what our rigs will put them through.

I've been daily driving with this kit for about 3 weeks now and it is seriously an incredible upgrade. Not only are the potential weaknesses of the OE system eliminated but the overall feeling of the clutch has been vastly improved. I tolerated the 6 speed in the FJ but I was never really truly impressed with it, it always felt numb. This kit changed that, now I thoroughly enjoy driving the manual. This kit also deletes the fluid control valve, which is the square piece on the side of the transmission directly above the slave cylinder. That valve is designed to slowly allow the fluid to flow away from the slave after the clutch pedal is released. This makes it easier for your average Joe or Joette to just hop in and drive a manual transmission but for those who that is not an issue for, it just dulls the feeling of the pedal and the responsive feeling of shifting. Anyone who has shifted fast while accelerating has probably noticed the engine "rev hang", this is directly related to the fluid control valve and after you have released the clutch pedal the valve is still slowly letting the slave cylinder go back to it's resting position so the clutch is actually still partially engaged for a brief moment. With the CM HSS kit shifts happen fast and it almost feels like you're driving a sports car.

I've written up a bit more on this on the fjcruiserforums: https://www.fjcruiserforums.com/for...ydraulic-slave-cylinder-upgrade-6-speeds.html